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Call me Scrooge, but I just don’t like Valentine’s Day. I love all of you every day of the year, not just February 14th; I don’t need the media to force me into buying flowers and candy and pink lingerie to show love. But I saw this awesomeness on the way to work this morning and I just had to share. Now THIS is the kind of Valentine’s Day fun I can support!

I KNOW you’re jealous of my photo editing skills! But come now, how can you resist meatballs, budget-friendly and smart furniture, and my floating head?

What are you doing March 9th? Do you live near College Park, Maryland? Like meatballs, Swedish furniture, and me? Well come to the College Park IKEA for their BYOF Day. Giveaways, food specials, and seminars on how to improve your life, including one by yours truly! I’ll be discussing, “Closet Cleanout and Organization: Refreshing your Wardrobe by Honing your Personal Style” at 1pm. Come and be kind – it’s my first speaking engagement of this sort for the blog (I’ve been waiting for a really great partnership and if you’ve looked at any of my home you know I love IKEA!). But it would be so great to meet some of you, and it looks to be a day of fun for the whole family! Read the PDF about the event here, and click here to register on Facebook!

When you’re a blogger, you get a ton of email pitches. Check out this brand, feature this watch, would you like to do a giveaway of this glow in the dark bedazzled needlepoint bookmark? I try to scan each one I get (though if I can tell from the snippet on Gmail that they call me Dear Blogger or Dear Wardrobe I may delete without opening). Many are strange products, many are great products but not appropriate to this blog, and few actually excite me. While this jacket isn’t for everyone, when I saw it in the email I was so tickled by it I replied right back on my iPhone when riding on the Metro and had to show it to you.

While I don’t have to plans to purchase this cat bomber jacket from MadeMe any time soon, I totally love it. Imagine with leather leggings and wedge sneakers, with a tulle skirt and Doc Martens, or over a bodycon dress with killer heels. I love how random and tongue in cheek it is, it’s a fun change from overly serious or twee fashion.

Yesterday and today are super early days at work, so no outfit posts, but yesterday I wore this slouchy black maxi dress and I am IN LOVE. To make it work appropriate I wore a striped tank underneath, but it’s extremely flattering (even my husband said he liked it and I didn’t even ask for his opinion), super ultra cozy and makes me feel cool like Stephanie from Odyssey Home. I’ll be wearing it on the blog soon, but I swooned so much I had to share now. As for today… striped tee, sweater coat, skinny jeans and tall boots – my standard early morning work day uniform!

Last weekend I was asked to speak at IKEA for their BYOF event. They asked me to speak about honing one’s personal style through closet organization. Some of you fabulous people came to the event (and even drove long distances, which humbles me so), and some of you were unable to attend but wanted to know what I discussed. Earlier this week I shared some of the discussion during the seminar’s Q&A, but below is the script I made myself for the seminar (though I practiced a lot and tried to ad-lib as much as possible).

Think about it, we start every day in our closet. Our experience in front of that bar of hangers really sets the tone for the rest of the day. What I hope to do today is give you tips and tricks to make that first part of your day less stressful, more positive, and inspiring.

I am proof that when it comes to closets, size doesn’t matter. A little over a decade ago, I moved into the historic part of Greenbelt. If any of you have been in one of their row homes, you know they can be charming but boy are they small! My bedroom closet was smaller than the coat closet in my old bachelorette apartment, and as for a coat closet well there wasn’t one. It was a great learning experience on how to work with little space, and to choose wisely as to what deserved to be in that minimal amount of real estate.

75% of the stuff in our closets we don’t even wear. When I have performed closet cleanouts for clients in the past, I found that three quarters of the clothing in their closet is there for sentimental reasons. A dress worn on a first date, the suit you wore to the interview for your current job, the lucky sweatshirt you wore through every finals week of college. Today I’m not going to tell you to toss your sartorial memories, but I am going to ask you to make your closet more functional.

The only way you can truly know what you have in your closet is to take everything out and start fresh. As your best friend to watch the kids for a couple of hours, turn on Pandora radio, pour a glass of wine, and lock yourself in your bedroom. Take everything out of the closet and once it’s empty, give it a quick cleaning with a damp cloth. Now you’re going to go through each individual garment and put it into one of four piles. Keep, Purge, Fix, and Store.

Keep means you have tried it on that day, it fits, it flatters, it’s useful to your life and style and is in perfect condition. No missing buttons, no need for ironing, ready to be worn.

Purge means it’s time for the piece to leave your home completely. It’s too small, too big, too dated, too damaged, or just plain wrong. Often we keep pieces that we bought and then had buyer’s remorse. The garment is just plain wrong, but you feel guilty because you spent good money on it. Your money is not coming back by letting that dress collect dust in your closet, it’s time to let it go and move on. We’ve all been there. When I say purge, that doesn’t mean throw everything in a bag and set it out on the curb for trash day. The majority of clothes in your closets can be useful to others.

For things like that dress you bought and never wore, consider eBay or a consignment shop so you can get back a bit of what you spent on it. For gently worn pieces, consider setting up a swap with friends where you can trade clothing for free. For everything else, you can donate for a nice tax deduction, or even consider Freecycle. In my house, we cut up old stained tee shirts into squares and use them as dusting cloths.

So we have kept that which is still fabulous and purged that which is not. With what is leftover, they go into two other piles – Fix, and Store.

Fix is the pile of items that could be great if they just had a quick little repair or makeover. Maybe it’s a wrinkled oxford, a pair of pants with a dropped hem, or a jacket missing a button. I keep a box at the bottom of my closet where I store all the clothes that need to be fixed. When I have a spare moment, I sew on buttons, iron, or pack up pieces to take to the dry cleaner or tailor. Having this box keeps you from justifying wearing a stained shirt or a stapled hem.

The final pile is Store. Here’s your sentimental clothing, as well as anything that is in fantastic condition but just not right. Maybe it’s a skirt that’s a flattering yet not of the moment length, or a great interview suit though you are now a stay at home parent. Pieces that fit, are made well, flatter, and just aren’t right at the moment, though they may be in a couple of years. This pile, store carefully, but store them where they are out of sight and out of temptation. Even when at the back of the closet, it’s far too easy to grab these items during a moment of weakness and sacrifice your style. (Here I started speaking of the merits of breathable canvas storage versus plastic.)

So now, you have a closet just full of great pieces that fit your current body and your current lifestyle. It may look a bit empty, but that’s not a bad thing. A closet that can breathe makes for easier dressing each morning. You wouldn’t think it, but it’s easier to get dressed each day when you have fewer options. However you’re probably realizing you have a few holes in your wardrobe. Make a shopping list of what you feel you need to pull the current closet together, make it cohesive. Maybe it’s a black pencil skirt, or a replacement dress for weddings and funerals. Think about your life, your current life, and what you do and where you go in a typical month. What else do you need to dress appropriately for each occasion? Write the pieces down, and carry them in your wallet or purse. This way, each time you hit the mall, you can stay on track and only buy what you need instead of what looks great or is being pushed by the salesperson.

It’s important to stick to a budget – you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your quality of life to be able to dress well each day. A good rule of thumb is 5% of your income towards what you wear. Now this may be more or less based upon your lifestyle and it may be more while you’re filling in holes in your wardrobe. From this, figure out a monthly budget and stick to it. Sometimes you may not use it all, but that’s good because you can save it for other months where you may spend more, say for a new winter coat or a pair of designer jeans that make you look five pounds and five years younger. I recommend tracking your budget on the same sheet or notebook as your shopping list, so it’s there staring you in the face each time you consider buying clothes. My motto at Wardrobe Oxygen is style comes from choosing quality, not quantity.

So now you have a pared-down closet of clothes that work as hard as you do. Now it’s time to take care of them. In this day and age of Pinterest and reality shows about celebrities, it’s easy to get wrapped up in having a pretty closet. The thing is, you want a functional closet, a closet that makes your life more enjoyable, that makes getting dressed each day easy and enjoyable. Here’s a few suggestions.

I recommend having all the same hangers. Not only does this make for an attractive closet, but it prevents you from losing clothes. I once bought a new black cardigan thinking I lost mine, but months later I found it on a dry cleaner’s wire hanger hidden between two black dresses. With all the same hangers, you can easily see everything in your closet. Speaking of wire hangers… I may sound like Mommy Dearest but get rid of them. They stretch out knits and can even leave rust stains on clothing. Dry cleaners are happy to take them back and many areas will recycle them.

So your clothes are hung up on consistent hangers, it’s now time to organize them. I highly recommend zoning your closet. Have all jackets together, all dresses together, all shirts together. This way it’s easy to see what you have and make ensembles. For categories you don’t wear often, such as cocktail dresses, have that zone in the farthest back part of the closet.

For making the most out of the space you have, I like closet organizers. I have one of those hanging fabric shelf gadgets where one can store purses, gym clothes, and even jeans. Also they have bars that hang from closet bars so you can double hang and maximize your closet real estate. (I really ad-libbed here because IKEA gave me a wardrobe and storage containers that they sell as my props).

With shoes, people have differing views on this, but I again recommend consistency. Choose one manner of storage and stick to it to prevent losing shoes and spending more than you need. Shoes can be an investment, so choose storage that is kind to your shoes – I keep my shoes in their original boxes and label them, but some like clear boxes, some like shoe racks, and IKEA has these cool gadgets where you can store your shoes on posts. Whatever seems best for you and protects your shoes. (At this point I started rambling about how a tree fell through my closet and that’s why I use boxes for storage.) As for boots, they sell fancy boot trees, but I just roll up old magazines and tuck them in the shafts to keep them from folding over and creasing.

I never get rid of accessories unless they are damaged. Accessories take up so little space, it’s worth it to keep them and reassess them every couple of seasons. A belt that seems dated this spring may be completely on trend in a year. I store jewelry in plastic baggies to keep them from tarnishing, loosely coil belts into an old shoe box, and for purses I stuff them with paper and then tuck them in an old pillowcase to keep them from getting dusty.

I recommend doing a closet reassessment like this twice a year, once at the end of the summer or back to school time, and once around this time of year as the weather is getting warmer. Not only can you again clean out all which isn’t doing you any style favors, but you can pack up out of season clothes and make a fresh shopping list of what you need for the upcoming season. Keeping up with your closet keeps you in a style frame of mind. You shop for clothing more carefully, you think more about how your clothes work with your body and your lifestyle, and you are better able to hone your personal style.

I love wine, but I don’t know a lot about it. I once subscribed to Food and Wine magazine to educate myself better, but got overwhelmed. I go to the store, look for a bottle between $9 – $15, and often decide based upon the look of the label.

I love coffee, but I don’t know a lot about it. My husband will ask me whether I like today’s coffee better than yesterday’s as it is a different brand or roast… and I can’t tell the difference. Sometimes I like coffee black, sometimes I don’t, but I don’t really think about why that must be. I am not a brand snob- I like Starbucks because they have fun drink ideas and yes, I am a sucker for their bright green straws. When it comes to coffee, I just know I like coffee – I like it hot for breakfast, I like it iced on a warm sunny day, and I love Frappucinnos and coffee-flavored ice cream.

When I go to IKEA with my sister, she will comment on how a chair is inspired by Jonathan Adler, or a table is a copy of Saarien. I just see a shiny white table or a pretty chair. I buy home décor based upon what appeals to me, having no clue what is currently hot, trendy, or a bad copy of a famous designer.

What’s the point of a fashion blogger rambling about furniture and beverages? The point is that I am not a connoisseur but I still allow myself to enjoy these things. No one judges me because I don’t know the difference between coffee from Jamaica or beans from Costa Rica, that I know how many points my Riesling received from Wine Spectator, or what designer inspired my Target shower curtain. No one judges me, and I enjoy myself.

And all this can be true about fashion. The thing is, you can treat fashion the way you may treat coffee, or wine, or furniture. Enjoy what you enjoy, don’t let all the facts and figures ruin your good time. Go slow, and relish in each pleasurable moment.

I often meet people who tell me they find fashion is stupid. During our conversation, I find that they don’t necessarily find it stupid, but instead they don’t understand it, or its relevance in their life. We often find that which we do not know or understand to be “stupid” or “pointless.” Think about it, have you ever found your husband’s passion for football or your best friend’s love of electronica to be strange? It’s not that it is stupid, it’s just foreign to you.

Unless you are a nudist, fashion is a form of art we all have to embrace in some manner. I always feel that if you have to do something, you might as well find pleasure in it. You don’t need to be a connoisseur to have fun with fashion.

How to Not Hate Fashion:- Buy colors you love. I am always surprised when I meet people who have colorful lives and personalities yet dress in drab neutrals. With discussion, I find they buy nondescript clothing to hide the fact that they fear fashion. 2012 is a wonderful year for color lovers, where you can find everything from dresses to denim in almost any color in the Crayola box. No need to leave the silhouettes and garment styles you find safe and comfortable, but if you love green why not buy a piece in that hue?

- Create a uniform. When I visit the closets of people who don’t like fashion, they usually have two to three times more clothing in their closet than I. Stop with all the mindless shopping and purchase garments that are tried and true. Heck, buy multiples. There is nothing wrong with having three pairs of the same black pants, and the same sweater in four different colors. I may seem to wear a different thing every day, but if you look closely I stick to a uniform of similar silhouettes that I know work for my body and lifestyle.

- Embrace accessories. If you feel most comfortable in simple pieces, show who you are with accessories. Scarves, necklaces, bangle bracelets, brooches, headbands, belts… simple low-cost pieces that can revolutionize your wardrobe.

- Consider shopping online. I used to hate my body. I would stand in a fitting room in a too-tight skirt and see-through blouse, my pale large legs and black trouser socks, glistening with sweat and tears from another horrific mall session. Each time I went shopping, I felt as though I was too fat, too soft, too short, too unusual for fashion. Then I had a baby and no time to actually go to a mall or boutique and had to rely on the Internet. This simple change improved my feeling about my body and the clothes that go on it every day.

Now I can try clothes on with natural light, with a mirror I trust. I can take off the trouser socks and put on a pair of pumps. I can see if a blouse fits better with a different bra, a dress with a pair of Spanx. I can really know if that belt will work with the dress I already own. Now online shopping can be daunting, but once you find brands and retailers you know like your body, it makes it easier; also more and more companies are offering free shipping and easy/free/in-store returns.

- Act as though fashion is a restaurant. If you despise liver yet it’s on the menu, you don’t reject the entire restaurant, you just choose a different entrée. If you find an entrée that looks appealing, but would prefer vegetables instead of the rice you ask the waiter for a switch and enjoy your custom meal. If you’re a vegetarian, you pick entrees that are animal-free, asking the waiter for suggestions and clarification. While society claims that you should drink red wine with beef but you’re craving a glass of Chardonnay with your filet mignon, get the Chardonnay and drink it with joy.

You don’t have to wear what everyone else wears. Heck, you really don’t need my wardrobe staples if you know yourself and your personal wardrobe needs. However, like a restaurant, you may not even know your favorite entrée until you try something new. Start small, an appetizer as you will. Step outside your comfort zone with a different retailer, different color, different silhouette. If you don’t like it, move on. Don’t blame yourself, and don’t blame fashion as a whole. You can’t blame a whole restaurant because you personally don’t like their risotto.

- Treat personal style the way you would a ‘Couch to 5k.’ No one expects you to be an expert fashionistas in a day… or even a year. The only way to find your personal style and have your exterior match your interior is with small steps. Slowly, gently venture out of your comfort zone and find out what looks and feels right.

***

No one expects you to be a fashion connoisseur unless you have chosen fashion to be your profession and life. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t become comfortable with some aspects of it. Honing your personal style helps people understand the true you, helps you feel and look like a cohesive person, and can make life easier and more enjoyable. Go slow, use care, and remember that half the fun of reaching your destination is the journey to get there!

Furniture shopping and other errands. Off to IKEA to scope out new office furniture – armed with measurements, camera and tape measure. Then to a few other places to work on making this room I shoot photos in into an actual functioning office.

Let me give you a bit of history. When my sister and I got our first post-college apartment together, we went to IKEA to outfit the whole pad. For our dining table, I got a round oak pedestal table and four Windsor chairs that was one of those last page of the IKEA catalog specials. That dining set went with us when we moved to Annapolis, and then moved in with me and Karl in 1999. We kept it until 2009 when we inherited Karl’s dad’s dining set.

Karl’s dad’s table was… well it was bigger. It had two leaves so it could seat up to 8 people comfortably. However, it was rickety and strangely had metal caps on the legs which scratched the floor and needed little coasters to sit on (which always slipped when the table was moved/enlarged with leaves). But it was free, and we’re big fans of free.

Karl has been talking for a while about making us a new dining table, weathering wood and making a sturdy farmhouse style table that can withstand years of science fair projects, birthday parties, Easter dinners, crayon marks and condensation rings. He just hasn’t had the time. So when my sister sent me a link from Craiglist, we were excited.

We were even more excited when we visited the table maker and saw one of these tables in person. And found that he was a really awesome guy, a dad of a little one who is making these in his basement. And yes, the price was still the same price when we confirmed with him.

Less than a month later, he emailed me to let me know the table was ready. We don’t have a vehicle big enough to transport such a table, he had a friend who delivered it to us for a reasonable fee. We love it even more now that it’s in out house. It’s exciting to have a table that WE chose, that fits our style, instead of making it work. We haven’t bought a ton of furniture for our home – most is what we brought from my bachelorette apartment or we inherited from our families. We feel so adult making such a big and long-term purchase for the house, and are thrilled to be able to support a local craftsman in the process!

And for those who asked on Instagram, the gentleman also makes coffee tables, console tables, benches for the dining tables, and dining tables of any size. He also can stain the table to the color of your choice. Feel free to tell him Alison Gary sent you if you are interested, I can’t say enough good things about the table, his customer service, or the whole experience.

As for the old dining table? We’ll be giving it a new life. Stay tuned for a post on that… and stay tuned as I’ll try to have a post all about our dining room before the summer is over!

UPDATE: The Craiglist posts are dated, but if you are interested in a similar table, contact me and I can get you in touch with the builder!

Thank you for considering Wardrobe Oxygen as a place to promote your brand, business or blog! Wardrobe Oxygen was created in 2005 and is a blog that not only showcases Alison Gary’s personal style but also offers fashion advice for all women, regardless of age, figure, lifestyle, or budget. Wardrobe Oxygen also regularly provides reviews of apparel, accessories, books, concerts, and beauty products.

Wardrobe Oxygen has been featured on sites such as Refinery 29, StyleCaster, Racked, The Washington Post, Washingtonian, B Woman, Redbook, and Parents Magazine. Alison Gary regularly writes for sites such as Savings.com, The Savvy Life, The Washington Post, AOL Patch, and Redbook Magazine. Alison Gary and Wardrobe Oxygen have been referenced in style books such as Living the Savvy Life and The Power of DRES and quoted on sites like U.S. News and World Report, Redbook, MSNBC, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Lifehacker, and Get Rich Slowly.

Along with writing for Wardrobe Oxygen and other publications, Alison has also performed speaking engagements for companies such as PR News and IKEA, and styling and video promotion for brands such as The Shoe Hive, Foxcroft and CAbi.

With over 12,000 RSS, Bloglovin, Feedly, and email followers and an average of 75,000 unique monthly site visits and 375,000 monthly pageviews, Wardrobe Oxygen is one of the Top 50 followed blogs in the United States. The average Wardrobe Oxygen reader is female, between the ages of 35-55 who is interested in current fashion and beauty trends. View up-to-date statistics for Wardrobe Oxygen on Fohr Card.

Wardrobe Oxygen has partnered with many quality brands, here are just a few:

If you would like to advertise with Wardrobe Oxygen or have Alison Gary feature or review your product, do not hesitate to contact Alison via email.

Disclaimer: FTC Regulations Effective December 2009 require disclosure that compensation is received for the placement of advertising on Wardrobe Oxygen, compensation may be received for giveaways, and compensation is never received for reviews. Regardless of whether compensation is received from a seller or advertiser, my opinions are always my own.

National Hanging Out Day – not a day to chill with friends (though that is nice), but a day for all Americans to choose to hang their laundry to dry instead of using an electric clothes dryer. The goal is to show how effective one tactic, such as using a clothesline, can be in cutting back our contribution to global warming.

Dryers use 10 to 15% of domestic energy in the United States. There are 88 million dryers in America, and if everyone converted to lines it could reduce residential output of CO2 by 3.3%. That’s pretty huge.

I love hanging my clothing to dry – not only do they smell as fresh as a spring day, but they don’t shrink and they don’t fade. Clothing constantly placed under heat and the tumbling of a dryer are faster to thin, wear, get holes and fall apart. Many dry clean only garments can easily be washed by hand or on the gentle cycle of your washer and dried on a rack or hanger.

Don’t have a yard for a clothes line (or the weather for line drying)? Clothes don’t have to be hung on a line outside to dry. Right now I have half my closet hanging off my shower curtain rod in my bathroom. Big box retailers and shops like The Container Store and IKEA offer collapsable drying racks that can fit in a corner or your bathtub and can accomodate a whole load of clothing. Retractable clotheslines and folding wall racks can hide out of sight until laundry day. I even use the towel bars in the hallway bathroom to dry dish towels and lingerie.

I was honored to be interviewed by Elle of the new blog Label Ho. Elle’s discusses fashion and her personal style on this site. I love supporting fellow fashion and style bloggers so I jumped at this chance to have us get to know one another better!

I loved the questions she asked (and if you go back in her archives, you can see her answers to the very same questions!). The name of her blog cracks me up. It reminds me of when I was Editor of my high school yearbook. I had such the fight with the sponsor over the proper spelling of this word. “If you add an ‘e’ it’s suddenly a garden tool!”(Let’s not even get into why this word was in my yearbook – let me just state that my high school was a fabulous one where I learned Japanese and was in International Baccalaureate courses, but it wasn’t in the most chi chi of neighborhoods.)

Since she interviewed me, I decided to ask her a few questions as well. Get to know Elle!

Why did you start blogging? What could be better than writing and posting about something you love? I thought it would be a fun hobby and a great way to connect with other fashion-minded people.

Favorite item in your closet: An authentic vintage Gucci handbag circa the 70s. I love that its suede and doesn’t have the GG logo plastered all over it. I found the bag at a thrift shop and its in immaculate condition. Best of all, I got it for an excellent price!

Favorite Web site to visit: FabSugar.com. They have pretty comprehensive coverage of what’s going on in the fashion world, delivered in quick, short posts. I also like that they post great outfits that members of their community put together. I’m fascinated with seeing what people put together.

Top five items on your style wish list for this season: I can only think of three since I think I pretty much have most of my key pieces already:

1.Another pair of dark bootleg jeans. I’ve pretty much worn my favorite pair so much (Joe’s Jeans in the Honey fit) that the color’s faded significantly.

2.More dresses. I’ve purchased a few already, but I just can’t get enough. They’re so easy to pull on in summer.

3.A pair of wide-leg jeans. I’ve tried on a ton of different ones, but still haven’t found a flattering fit.

I am all about quality instead of quantity in ones closet. And I am not ashamed to wear the same thing more than once in a week (uh hello last post!). I am most famous for doing this on weekends – if the clothes aren’t dirty or rumpled, I will re-wear them the next day.

Omigod, it’s Allie in SHORTS!!!!

So Saturday morning, I got up early to pick up Emerson from my mom’s house, and then headed to IKEA to meet up with my friend for breakfast and retail therapy. I only own one pair of shorts, and you are looking at them. They were $6.99 from the clearance rack at Gap last summer. Not khaki, not olive, some color in between. And they aren’t the most flattering thing, but sometimes one just needs a pair of shorts. The weather has been so darn muggy and hot and gross lately in the DC area, skirts will stick to legs and are sometimes a tough choice when chasing after Emerson, pants are too much fabric. I paired my shorts with a navy and white striped scoop tee from Ann Taylor, a black coral necklace my husband picked up in Mexico, and brown stacked flip flops from J. Crew. Nothing tres chic, but a good outfit for shopping, errand running, cleaning the house.

Sunday, we had two good friends over for an early dinner and to hang out. I put on the same top from Ann Taylor, this time with my white low-slung flare chinos from Gap and my silver and yellow necklace from NY & Co.

I have worn this shirt also with my dark straight jeans from NYDJ and my brown croco sandals, and think it would be tres cute with a denim pencil skirt (recently ordered one from Gap but it’s hideous on my bod and being returned – still on the hunt). This top is currently in Ann Taylor stores and it looks just as great after a run in the washer and dryer that it did when brand new. I am all about the nautical stripes right now – I have my striped top from Lands End, and am even toying with getting another one in a different color combo for this fall!

Yesterday I visited a major outlet mall in my area.Over a mile of stores – some with great bargains, some with great piles of crap.There have been many stories about discount stores – how some of the product is not on sale, the clothes are made specifically for the outlet and are not the same quality that the brand name usually delivers, etc.After all that, you find designer duds for less, when is it worthwhile to spend, when should a bargain be passed by?

FitIf it doesn’t fit well for $300, still doesn’t fit well for $150 and even for $65, don’t buy it.Just because it’s a great bargain does not make the fit any better.Shoes that are too tight or too big, jackets that pull at the back, pants that would be lovely if you just lost 15 lbs., no matter the bargain these items should just stay on the rack.

If the jacket’s sleeves are too long, the skirt’s hem at an awkward length, the shoulders a bit too big, these things can be altered easily by a tailor.You must be in love with the piece and find multiple places and ways to wear it to justify the tailor expense.I found a cream silk linen suit at a discount store – the suit fit perfectly except for a broken zipper and too long of sleeves and legs.I bought the suit for $65, regularly $350, and for $40 had the zipper and hems all modified.I have worn the suit to work, to religious events and as separates for three years.That purchase was worth the added tailoring expense.

StyleOften times the items at the discount store are there because they are leftover from last season.When it comes to classic pieces like suits, dresses and knits, this is not a problem. A blue merino v-neck is lovely almost every year, and more lovely when 50% off.The problem comes with the trendy p[pieces.

If Lindsay, Mischa, Nicole or Chloe was wearing it last spring, it’s a good chance that piece is passé now.Pass on the embellished jeans, the metallic leather bags, the rainbow-hued sunglasses and most other accessories.Just because it’s on sale does not mean it is a good buy.When it comes to scouring outlets, your best deals are the ones that will last through more than one season.Sweaters, suits, outerwear, cocktail dresses, leather goods and most shoes are great bargains if you find quality and value in the same item.

Name BrandsJust because you found a pair of Manolo Blahniks for $100 at the Saks Fifth Avenue outlet does not mean they need to be purchased.Do they fit your current style?Are they comfortable?Are they current or classic?

We have all seen the label whores – those women with a Coach purse, Jimmy Choo shoes that JLo wore last year, Baby Phat jeans, a Bebe tee with the rhinestone logo, Chanel sunglasses and a Pucci scarf in her hair.These items weren’t bought for the quality or the style.They were bought because a stranger could spot the brand a mile away.She looks trashy, obvious and victimized by fashion.None of these are appealing.Labels do not suddenly make you well dressed or well liked.

If you can find a Furla bag for 40% off and it suits your style as well as lifestyle – then go for it.If you are buying a bag purely because it’s Prada and you don’t like the style, size or fabric… well you have become a label whore.

Don’t buy that jacket just because it’s designer.Pretend that it is an unknown label – do you still like it?Do you still find it attractive and necessary?If not, put it back on the rack.That goes for ill-fitting designer duds, last season’s “It Bag,” obvious logo advertising (if it’s that obvious, it will be that obvious from last season – not worth your time or money) and damaged designer goods.

Damaged GoodsMany discount retailers sell the irregulars from a label.Some irregulars can barely be seen by the naked eye – may be an incorrect dye lot or the wrong buttons sewn on a jacket.Some may work in your favor – pants cut too short or sleeves that are too long or too narrow.Often times these stores received the garments that were damaged in production, transit or through many jaunts to the fitting room.Broken zippers, missing buttons, fabric snags are all defects that can easily be repaired or covered up if the price and style is right.However there are other defects that are not worth the purchase, no matter how low the price.Runs in nylon, stains, button holes at the wrong height, linings that do not align with the trouser, two pieces stitched together from two different dye lots.Even if it is Versace, it will look like Gallo Clothing on you if it is this defective.

Buying in BulkI used to be a huge fan of buying in bulk – find a tee shirt you love, buy it in eight colors and three of white and black.Flattering trousers?Buy one in every color.I then found that my wardrobe was like one big uniform… one big boring uniform.Mixing basics with fun pieces offers versatility, ease but individual style.

At outlet malls, buying in bulk is a good idea.Yesterday I was at the Banana Republic outlet and found high quality stretchy tees in tons of colors – $9.99 each.I bought one in black, one in white, one in gray and one in red.These shirts can be worn with jeans on weekends, with a little skirt for happy hour with the girls or under a suit for work.I found a great pair of wool trousers at Off Fifth, bought them in brown, gray and black.They were so standard and fit so amazingly well (and were only $39.99 each) that it was worthwhile to buy every color I liked.I knew with my work and lifestyle I would find regular use for such trousers.Another time I found a pair of really cute studded pointy heels from NYLA.They were 75% off and tres cute.I decided to buy them in hot pink, ivory and black, thinking that if they fit well, they would get much use.I was imagining sparkly tops and designer jeans with the ivory, a sexy power suit with the black, and envisioned an outfit a la Carrie Bradshaw for the pink.I took them all home, have worn the pink ones multiple times, and have barely touched the other two.I don’t wear designer jeans with sparkly tops on a regular basis, and don’t own a single chic black power suit.Those two shoes have barely seen the light of day.Consider your current lifestyle when considering to buy in bulk – items that look too familiar may not be worn and too many of the same thing may make them all too boring to regularly wear.Also, if you don’t wear red patent stilettos now, you probably won’t after purchasing a pair.

In conclusion, don’t buy just because of a label, or just because of an amazing price.Less money for an item is still money, and money should be spent carefully.Be willing to take the time to find quality purchases, not pick up every shiny bauble that sort of resembles what Gwen or Jessica wore last Spring.Fashion is not about the specific item, but the allover look.A Louis Vuitton bag or a pair of Chanel sunglasses will not make you a fashionista, the pairing with appropriate and complimentary pieces is what takes you from being a label whore or a fashion victim to fashionista status.

Our house was built in the 1940s; three years ago we decided to stay put and build an addition instead of moving to a larger home. The original home was a bit over 700 square feet – the size of a basic two-bedroom apartment but on two floors. After the remodel we are now around 1,400 square feet. One of the best parts of the remodel was the opening of the hallway. Originally where the banister is, we had a solid wall. That wall housed our entertainment center for the living room – now it opens to our dining room.

While this remodel was taking place, I was on bedrest for my pregnancy. Paint colors were chosen by my husband collecting a few paint swatches from Home Depot and asking me to pick which one I liked best. One color that I liked better in the swatch than in real life was the color for the hallway. I thought this color would be darker, but over time it has grown on me. If the bathroom and Emerson’s room doors are closed, the hallway can be quite dark; the light color opens it up.

Before the remodel we were so frustrated with the stair risers. When we moved in, they were dingy white and covered with globs of glue from having stained carpet removed. We tried painting them white but they still looked dreadful. I then tried to be creative and painted them French blue, which was just as horrible. I then painted them over with red, which was fun, but still not right. One of the best parts of the remodel was that they sanded them down, properly painted the risers, and refinished the oak stairs. I would like a runner, but don’t want basic beige Berber or an Oriental look and most runners I see are either out of my price range or not our style. Until I find the right thing, they stay bare.

As soon as we had the hallway redone, I knew I wanted to do a collage of frames along the wall. My husband’s dad died during the remodel and I wanted to display some great pictures of him, along with other great pictures of our family.

My cousin Arielle took this picture one summer and I just loved it so much I had it blown up and framed. She totally captured the chubby cheeks and arms of that age, and how curious and newly mobile she was (she was examining a Slip N Slide at the time of the photo).

Me and my sister as kids, my husband as a baby, me and my husband with the groomsmen from our wedding making silly faces, a member of Kings of Leon (no not really, it’s my father-in-law but I think he would fit in the band perfectly!).

My husband and his dad, me throwing a temper tantrum as a toddler, my husband’s maternal grandfather (picture taken by my father-in-law).

We don’t have many wedding photos up, just the two in this hallway. This is right after we were declared husband and wife, one of the only pics of the event where we were together. Funny how a wedding is about the union of two people, but you get so busy greeting family and friends you often don’t see one another except at the ceremony, first dance, toast, and cake cutting! I guess that’s what the honeymoon is for…

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As you can see, I never finished this hallway project. In our home office I have a stack of black frames – ones I buy on clearance at Marshalls and Target or pick up when I stop by IKEA. I just haven’t had the time to pick the photos and put them up in the right place. Maybe this post will inspire me to finish!

Not much is new here… still on bedrest, still no baby. The house is going well – yesterday they installed the kitchen cabinets and appliances. No sink or counters, but the fridge, range and microwave are working! We should have the rest within a week. It’s really coming together which is exciting.

Christmas had me cheat on bedrest – we went to my mom’s for breakfast and to open presents. We then came home so I could take a long nap, and we went back for dinner and hanging out. We kept the crowd small this year since we didn’t know what state I would be in (and if we would have an additional family member). Just immediate family.

Got some fun things – two surprisingly stylish nursing clothing (a tank and a dress), a ton of knee high socks from my sister (I ADORE knee socks under trousers and tall boots and she got me the coolest patterns), I got the Nars Monoi Body Glow II which is so decadent and smells like elegant summer. Five years ago we only received seven place settings of our wedding flatware from Crate & Barrel and I received three more sets which was wonderful. Got some other lovely things, and was glad to see people happy with what I bought them.

Ruckus got a rope twisted frisbee of sorts from my mom and was gnawing on it earlier and is now napping on the floor with his face and paw protectively over it. I ordered him an LL Bean dog bed to celebrate the new house but it hasn’t yet arrived. We’re listening to some new CDs my husband got (NIN, Kings of Leon, Legendary Pink Dots, PJ Harvey, TV on the Radio).

Yesterday our new mattress arrived. Embarrassed to admit it, but we have been sleeping on a mattress that we inherited from my husband’s mom… and she passed away a bit over a decade ago. I have been waking up in pain, and he has been having back and neck issues. We figured a new mattress was a better investment than regular massages and chiropractor appointments so we researched, price compared and finally got one. This morning was the first time in MONTHS that I woke up and was able to walk instead of hobble to the bathroom. We decided this was a better purchase than new living room furniture, so we will be enjoying our “new” home with our old furniture for a while longer. No worries… today as I waited for my husband to finish letting the dog out/play with him outside before we returned to my mom’s house, I sat at my dining table facing my new kitchen, marveling at all the light, the angles, the colors, the beauty of it. And really, I love it even with my old just-out-of-college IKEA furniture that hardly fills the space. Just having all the room and conveniences of a modern home is so wonderful.

I think they will finish the baby’s room before Monday so we can bring the crib, clothes and all the baby stuff from my mom’s and settle in. Pretty exciting!

I don’t know how much I will be online this holiday week, but I will try to at least post (or have my sister post for me) when the baby arrives! If I don’t speak to you beforehand, happy new year everyone! Have fun, be safe and be well!

Have you seen this quote floating around Pinterest? I have and every time I see someone I know pin it I cringe.

I believe in the power of clothing. A great outfit can be a suit of armor that helps you feel confident during a stressful or difficult situation. Wearing a certain type of clothing can show respect to your workplace, to a house of worship, for the deceased, or those hosting an event. And sometimes just the right cut of a dress can take you from schlump to sex goddess.

However there isn’t a single purchase you can make for your closet that will change who you are. I don’t care what name is on the label or how amazing it makes your boobs or ass look, it’s not going to change your brain, your heart, or your soul. And maybe I sound like your mom, but it’s what’s inside that counts.

Clothing is only the book jacket to your life novel. Choosing clothing that fits and flatters not just your figure but your lifestyle and personality help better represent your novel and may attract more interested readers, but they don’t affect the plot or the outcome.

I’ve caught myself many times doing what I know many of you have done – shopped for a new self. This year I’m going to wear more power colors, I’m going to embrace my femininity, if I start over with a new minimalist capsule wardrobe my life will be simpler, I’m not going to be “that” mom, “that” corporate drone, and yes “that” blogger.

And the closet gets new additions, but one’s core, one’s self is unchanged. Because money can’t buy happiness, and it can’t buy a new soul. It’s easier to throw money at a closet than do self-analysis and work to improve our selves, but it doesn’t work. You have to do the work, not your wardrobe. Life is more than clothes, don’t let purchases define you, don’t let that which was unpurchased haunt you. You’re so much more than what you buy and own, so much more precious and interesting and beautiful. Believe that, and remember that a book jacket is just marketing; the plot of the novel is what really matters.

With age comes wisdom. It’s taken a while, but I have learned to truly buy quality instead of quantity. I unsubscribed from most retail emails so I am not wooed by 50% off (if I didn’t need it at full price, I don’t need it now), I rarely enter a mall because I know myself and I will leave at least $100 poorer with bags full of things I don’t need and will likely collect dust. When I visit a store like Target or TJ Maxx I have a written shopping list that will be a visible reminder to stay on track. And in the past year, when I have added to my closet I have looked for what I can remove – to store for the future, to donate, to sell, to admit defeat and cut up into rags.

And the things I purchase are better quality too. Now I am no Martha Stewart, so for me quality is likely Nine West, Etsy, L’Oreal. But I have learned it’s not about the name on the label, but how the piece works with my life and performs in the long run. Be it bras, BB cream, baking dishes, or boots I research, save, and buy the best within my budget. This also goes for luxury items (and items that are luxurious just to me). I have never admitted being a minimalist, and with age I have learned that some luxury items just make life better (and are far kinder to the body than cupcakes and nachos). I’ve also learned that luxury can come at all pricepoints, and some of the best indulgences are quite kind to my wallet.

I’ve found that series on this blog are some of my most popular posts on Wardrobe Oxygen. And so my newest series will feature little luxuries I indulge in, and how I budget for them, and why they are worth it. I hope you enjoy!

Fossil was kind enough to send me this bag and I immediately fell in love with the color. It’s not cherry, it’s not tomato, it’s not ruby or oxblood or any other fancy terms. It’s as clear and true of a red as a crayon. I checked the bag’s label and it’s called Real Red. I like that, no crazy made-up name, just what is exactly is. This bag is pretty phenomenal, and perfect for a commuter like me. Two side zipper pockets to hold things like farecards and lip balm, and inside there is a zipper pocket on one side, and the other side five different pockets to hold anything from a Smartphone or your keys to business cards and a pack of gum. And in this bag I have my wallet, Kindle (did you enter my Kindle giveaway?), makeup bag, myAgenda, sunglasses, gloves, journal, and two reusable containers to hold my lunch. Impressive! The crossbody strap is adjustable to become a shoulderbag, or it can be removed. I know this bag is going to be used quite a lot this season!

I never understand why street style models and bloggers wear their coats on their shoulders like a cape. How can they move their arms? Why not just put on the coat? Then I realized on cold days I do this very thing – I wear the coat like a cape from the house and over my shoulders until Karl gets ready to take pictures. This way my outfit doesn’t get as rumpled and I’m less likely to mess up my hair. Karl got this picture of me in the coat at the beginning of the shoot and it showcases the coat I bought last winter on a whim and still adore a year later (and it’s still available at Nordstrom and now on sale!).

I’m not a fan of designer collaborations. I don’t understand clamoring for a cheaper version of a designer piece. I don’t want a glued-together pleather bag or ill-fitting polyester blouse no matter what name is on the label. However, once the Issa Collection came out for Banana Republic I was intrigued. Banana Republic already has good quality and fits me relatively well, and the pieces in the collection were things I would buy no matter the designer. I liked the kimono dresses, and felt this print was one I would wear now and five years from now, in spring and in winter. For those considering this dress, I chose a 14, and yes, they do run short (it’s veering on not work appropriate and I am 5’3″). However it’s made extremely well, a heavy matte jersey that feels good and is a style that I think would work if I gained or lost weight. And you know me, I waited until it was on sale, Banana Republic was having a big sale, and I had reward dollars!

And how great is this bracelet? Wearing gold jewelery? No problem! Silver? No problem! Everything goes with this piece from Ruth Barzel, and I love that it’s rock and roll while still being elegant. I’ve been wearing this bracelet a ton lately (check my Instagram for proof), I like it mixed with other bracelets, but with such a bold dress, I felt it looked best all by itself.

I forgot to set my alarm last night. My body woke me up at 7:15 (glad it wasn’t 8:15) and I had 45 minutes to get myself together and out the door. I had pulled this skirt out of my stash of potential winter things and a month ago it was just too tight, too short, and I thought I would re-eBay it. I pulled it on this morning since it was sitting on the cedar chest at the foot of the bed… and it fit! Only thing wrong is I guess the hem dry rotted and has fallen out while wearing (easy to fix). Very excited to have another leather skirt in my arsenal!

New bag – I had $40 in Nordstrom rewards, saw this bag for $129 and decided to try it. I have wanted a bigger bag to carry my netbook and such, and wanted a soft black purse (currently have my Banana Republic one which is that textured hard leather like a football). Love the bag, so soft, holds so much, necessary front pocket (with magnet closure) and hey… gotta love such a quality bag for only $89!

Sorry for the delay in posting, work has gotten really hectic. Glad I stocked the office fridge with Lean Cuisines because that’s the only way I get to eat anything. The only time I have left my desk is to hit the printer or the bathroom (and refill my water bottle!). Whew, what a crazy couple of weeks!

To celebrate me coming back to work and to blogging, I have a great contest for you readers!

One of you can win a Tolani scarf that has been seen on the likes of Jessica Alba (pictured), Sienna Miller, Vanessa Minnillo (pictured), Halle Berry and Mary-Kate Olsen.

The Tolani scarf is courtesy of chickdowntown.com, an awesome site that sells hip women’s designer clothing from the likes of Black Halo, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Fürstenberg and Vera Wang Lavender Label.

I am so excited, because you KNOW I love scarves, and these beauts from Tolani are fabulous!

How to enter:Send an email to mywardrobetoday@gmail.com with the word “TOLANI” in the subject.In the body of the email, please provide your name and mailing address (I promise these addresses will only go to me – except for the winner, and will be deleted once the contest is over). Winner will be chosen by random.

Contest ends Friday, March 20th, 2009 at midnight ET. Winner will be contacted by email. Scarf will be mailed out from chickdowntown.com. Sorry international readers, but the contest is only open to those in the United States.

Hair was washed and conditioned, dried with my Croc wet-to-dry iron. No products.’

Makeup is L’Oreal True Match concealer in W1-3, Benefit’s That Gal, philosophy The Supernatural in Beige, Nars blush in Orgasm, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis – ivory over whole lid. Lashes curled, two coats Cover Girl Lash Blast and one of Imju Fiberwig. Maybelline Ultraliner in black on top lash line and on lips is some Revlon Shiny Sheers in a sheer red that I left at home by accident so do not have to read the label.

I am not really sure what is going on with the layout of my posts; I have not done anything different so it must be that Blogger is being stupid again.

This outfit is inspired by Catie’s contest at Cuffington. This outfit makes me fabulous inside… though notsomuch when I walk past my reflection in a window. I adore this skirt, it is so much fun and the color is awesome. The cashmere tank is really thick and I have had it for years and got it for like $10 on the clearance rack. Jacket has given me many miles and I love its versatility and the shoes… oh I love these shoes so much I have two pairs of them! All that is missing is my silver cuff, this great green ring I bought at a Ren Fest and my wedding tiara and I would be wearing almost all my favorite things! Too bad this skirt isn’t the most flattering (the one my husband says makes me look like Mimi from Drew Carey) or I would wear it every week!

Hair is weird. In the shower I was considering loose messy waves and the front feathered out. Yeah, I watched Jessica Simpson’s stupid new video and was slightly inspired. So I added Frizz-Ease Dream Curls Spray, blew hair straight letting it do as it pleased, twisting some pieces. It ended up looking damaged and gross. I continued blowing, using a paddle brush, that made some difference. I then blew the front with a round boar bristle brush and then applied bioSilk so it didn’t look as much like straw…. not my best hair day.

Makeup is L’Oreal True match foundation in C3, MAC Studio Stick concealer, Physician’s Formula Magical Mosaics bronzer for color and powder, a bit of Nars Orgasm blush. Eyes is the ivory shadow from Revlon’s ColorStay Neutral shadow quad, then The Body Shop’s 08 (Granite) in the lids and along the lash line. lashes curled via Shu Eumura and two coats of L’Oreal Voluminous mascara in black applied. On lips is Sally Hansen’s diamond lipgloss in a hot pink (the label with the name fell off).